Who am I without my armor?
Aino shook her head, still unconvinced. Hotaru was as good at talking now as she had been before, but the soldier got a feeling that the woman was failing to see the inevitability of what had now been set in motion. Cordelia's hand in hers and Sah's bold presence by her shoulder only served as a stark reminder of everything she stood to lose, and she could not forgive either of these new Wardens for making her job of defending her family this much harder.
"Every favor you ask of gods comes with a price," she persisted, level and bold as she spoke her mind. "The moment you delivered Halo into their palms, the conscription of us all into their army was inevitable. Halo's only enemies used to be our own exiles and the weather. Now you've pitted it against the Voice and her people. Even if I never set foot before a shrine their decrees through you are forcing my hand into defending my home against far more than cannibals and cultists. Don't expect me to be grateful for it."
Shaking her head, Aino turned to stalk away from the square. She had spoken her piece, and no amount of speeches from on high would be able to change her mind. This was a bad idea. It galled her that there was so little she could do about it - and that her only option seemed to be between leaving her homeland and accepting this shackle around her neck.
Aino out!
"Every favor you ask of gods comes with a price," she persisted, level and bold as she spoke her mind. "The moment you delivered Halo into their palms, the conscription of us all into their army was inevitable. Halo's only enemies used to be our own exiles and the weather. Now you've pitted it against the Voice and her people. Even if I never set foot before a shrine their decrees through you are forcing my hand into defending my home against far more than cannibals and cultists. Don't expect me to be grateful for it."
Shaking her head, Aino turned to stalk away from the square. She had spoken her piece, and no amount of speeches from on high would be able to change her mind. This was a bad idea. It galled her that there was so little she could do about it - and that her only option seemed to be between leaving her homeland and accepting this shackle around her neck.
Aino out!
AinO
